Dispenser for cigarette packages, or the like



J. KATZ 3,194,402

DISPENSER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES, OR THE LIKE July 13, 1965 Filed June 22, 1964 2% 6 Z W fa WMA g iizl United States Patent 3,194,402 DISPENSER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES,

OR THE LIKE I Jack Katz, 6630 W. Colgate Ave., Los Angeles, Cahf. Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,684 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) The present invention relates to dispensers for cigarette packages, cigar packages, and the like; and it relates more particularly to an improved dispenser of that general type for use in the home, or otfice, for example, or in cars, trucks, buses, or other vehicles.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser of the above mentioned type, for holding cigarette packages, or the like, without crushing them, and having an opening at one end through which one package of cigarettes, or the like, at a time may be removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved dispenser with the dispensing opening so dis posed, and with a forward wall so configured, that when the dispenser is mounted in a particular manner, as each package is removed through the dispensing opening, another package will assume position at the opening in readiness for removal, this being accomplished without mechanical or electrical aids, or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved dispenser which is constructed and conceived so that the cigarette packages may be held therein in two layers, so as to conserve space, without affecting the readiness and facility by which the packages can be individually removed from the dispensing opening of the dispenser.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved dispenser which is inexpensive in its construction, and which may be installed in the home, or vehicle, in an easy and straight-forward manner.

The size of the dispenser to be described herein may be made large enough to permit it to hold a number of packages of cigarettes, for example, corresponding to a full carton. This enables the cigarettes to be conveniently purchased on a carton basis, and then placed in the dispenser.

The dispenser of the invention, when used in the home, for example, may be conveniently installed under a shelf. When used in a car or truck, on the other hand, the dispenser may be mounted under the dashboard of the vehicle.

In either event, and as will be described in detail in the ensuing specification, when the dispenser of the invention is mounted on a slight incline, then, as each package is removed from the dispensing opening, the remaining packages will slide forward, so that the next package to be removed will take the place of the previous package.

The front, exposed end of the dispenser of the present invention, may be nickel-plated, colored, or inscribed with any desired design, if so desired, for decorative purposes. The dispenser itself may be composed of metal, plastic, wood, cardboard, or any other suitable material.

The features of the invention which are believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view of a motor vehicle with a dispenser, constructed in accordance with the concepts of this invention, mounted under the dashboard of the vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of a blank of material which may be configured into the body portion of the dispenser of the invention.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the dispenser 10 of the present invention may be conveniently mounted under the dashboard of a motor vehicle. However, as mentioned above, the dispenser may also be used around the home, or in any other environment in which a crush-proof, ready storage and dispenser for cigarette packages, or the like, is desired.

The dispenser 10 includes a body portion formed to have a bottom wall 12, a pair of side walls 14 and 16, a rear wall 18, and a forward wall 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the body portion has a rectangular configuration, and may have an integral construction.

For example, the body portion may be formed from the blank of material designated 22 in FIGURE 4. It

' will be appreciated that when the blank 22 is folded along the lines indicated, the receptacle, or body portion of the dispenser shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 may be formed.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the rectangular configuration of the body portion is such that packages of cigarettes 24 may be supported therein in two layers. The front Wall 20 is in the form of two upstanding strips 26a and 20b. These strips extend upwardly and outwardly from the forward edge of the bottom wall 12, and they have a stepped configuration, as shown.

A notch 26 extends inwardly from the forward edge of the bottom wall 12, and the strips 20a and 2% are transversely spaced, and are disposed on opposite sides of the notch 26.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of the front wall 20, and in particular of the strips 20a and 20b, is such that the two layers of cigarettes in the body portion may be supported in an ofi set, staggered relationship, when the dispenser is mounted with a slight inclination, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The dispenser of the invention may be conveniently mounted by means of a bracket 30. The bracket 30 has an elongated portion 30a which may be extensible, as shown by the coupling 30b. The elongated portion 30a is attached to the side wall 14, as by spot welding or rivets 32. The upper end of the elongated portion 30a has a transverse member 3% attached to it, and this member may be mounted to the underside of the dashboard of the vehicle. The member 300 is attached to the elongated member 3th: by a single screw 39d, or rivet, or other pinlike element, so as to permit the dispenser to be mounted with any desired inclination.

When the inclination of the dispenser is such that the forward wall 20 is lower than the rear wall 18, the con tents of the dispenser will, naturally, slide toward the forward wall. The configuration of the strips 20a and 20b is such that the upper layer of packages moves out over the intermediate portion of the strips, as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3.

Then, the notch 26 and the space between the strips 20a and 20b permits the forward package 24 in the top layer to be removed. After the removal of the forward package, the entire top layer will slide forward, so that the next package assumes position for removal.

The removal operation may continue until all the packages of the top layer have been removed. Then, the forward package of the lower layer may be easily removed, by grasping it through the slot 26. The process can then continue until all of the packages of the bottom layer have been removed.

When the dispenser is empty, it may be easily loaded from the forward end.

In addition, mounting holes 40 may be formed in the r sides of the'dispenser. These holes permit the dispenser to be mounted, for example, on the side of a Wall or cabinet by means of appropriate mounting screws. Large holes 42 are also'provided to receive a screw driver and facilitate the insertion of screws through the holes 40.

'When the dispenser is mounted in this manner, the

bracket 30 is not needed. a

the home, a While a particular It is intended in the following claims tocover all 'rnodifications which fall withinithe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: 7

1. 'A' dispenser assembly for packages of cigarettes,

the like, said packages having a rectangular configuration and said dispenser assembly'including: a body portion having a rectangular configuration and compris ing a bottomcwall a rear Wall, side walls and a front wall, and intended to hold two layers of the rectangular. packages of cigarettes, and the like; mounting bracket means attached to said body portion for mounting said embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made;

' dispenser at an i inclination towards said front ;-wall; the

forward dge of said bottom-wall adjacent said front wall having a notch formed therein to permiLthe mane ual grasping of the-forward package in (the lowertlayer V in said body portion; and said frontwall, beingin the form of two transversely spacedf 'stripscdisposed :onopposite 7 sides of saidcnotch and having a steppedflconfigur'ation,

said strips extending upwardly and} outward1y"from the forward end of said body portionto permitftheforward package ofthe top layerto beiremovedzand .to permit ii'tlie t0? layer of packages'insaid body portion :to be displaced forwardly with respectrtozthe bottomilayer-vin'istaggered-Q relationship therewithiuntil all the packages in the top a a i layer have been removed; 1

2. The dispenserassembly defined in claim '1 in'which; said body portion has an integral constructioniandis formed froina single blank otjmaterialg J ReferencesiCited UNITED STATES PATENTS CLAUDEA; liE ROYg Pr'im qry'Eicazrzinerl Y a 

1. A DISPENSER ASSEMBLY FOR PACKAGES OF CIGARETTES, AND THE LIKE, SAID PACKAGES HAVING A RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION AND SAID DISPENSER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: A BODY PORTION HAVING A RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION AND COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, A REAR WALL, SIDE WALLS AND A FRONT WALL, AND INTENDED TO HOLD TWO LAYERS OF THE RECTANGULAR PACKAGES OF CIGARETTES, AND THE LIKE; MOUNTING BRACKET MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTION FOR MOUNTING SAID DISPENSER AT AN INCLINATION TOWARDS SAID FRONT WALL; THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM WALL ADJACENT SAID FRONT WALL HAVING A NOTCH FORMED THEREIN TO PERMIT THE MANUAL GRASPING OF THE FORWARD PACKAGE IN THE LOWER LAYER IN SAID BODY PORTION; AND SAID FRONT WALL BEING IN THE FORM OF TWO TRANSVERSELY-SPACED ST RIPS DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID NOTCH AND HAVING A STEPPED CONFIGURATION, SAID STRIPS EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID BODY PORTION TO PERMIT THE FORWARD PACKAGE OF THE TOP LAYER TO BE REMOVED AND TO PERMIT THE TOP LAYER OF PACKAGES IN SAID BODY PORTION TO BE DISPLACED FORWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE BOTTOM LAYER IN STAGGERED RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH UNTIL ALL THE PACKAGES IN THE TOP LAYER HAVE BEEN REMOVED. 